the Experience

Find your expression, and explore your SHITT.  Join one of NYC’s most innovative yogis, and founder of the "SHITT,"  a "Serious High Intensity Thoughtfulness Training" at the stunning Piney River Ranch in the rugged Colorado Back Country. Follow a dirt road to its end, and keep going. We will meet you there, on a crystal lake surrounded by forest,  mountains, waterfalls, and maybe a resident moose.

YOUR YOGA GUIDE: SENSEI DEREK COOK 

"I have always worked with my body in one way or another.  My hands my tools.  I’ve been a carpenter, an artist, and a sculptor.  I have desired to help, to teach and to heal those around me.  This path as a healer has given me the opportunity to use all these skills together in a well rounded approach to health and well being... I discovered my love of movement and the body after a childhood of health problems, weight issues, joint problems and other physical ailments played a large part in my young life.  After years of misunderstanding and mistreating my body I discovered the benefits of running and began to head down the path of physical health and wellness.  Running lead me to the gym which gave me the ability to begin my first version of a yoga practice.  This yogic workout opened my mind to the idea of yoga as a practice and over time, I found my own teachers who helped to guide me to the path of a healer, though even they did not know it then. In recent years, I have immersed myself in an understanding of the body and movement and cultivated an intuitive sense for healing.  I have discovered a badly hidden passion for teaching and guiding others.  I have chosen to answer a relentless call to help others.  I have been blessed enough to find many different outlets for this.  Budokon, Yoga and Thai Bodywork all act as tools to aid me in guiding others to health and well being, and to enable them to continue the work we begin on the mat."

THE YOGA

For all on the path, at some point the choice to deal with our "SHITT" must be made.  To get down and dirty & deep and honest with EVERY aspect of our self is the only option.  Join us on this powerful and beautiful journey in(side).  Just outside of Vail Colorado, lies a safe space to spend time with the best of, and to get real with the worst of our process.  Amidst the awe inspiring mountain air and views, we can truly open up...and commit to exploring every nook and crevice as we split our time between "seriously high intensity training and deep spiritual work."  The "SHITT" was developed to use High Intensity Interval Training, and smart bodyweight based functional movement coupled with mindful meditation and yoga, to connect with the best versions of ourselves... to reveal and reshape the "SHITT" we place between us and "that" self.  Come with an open mind and a commitment to show up. Leave with a heart full of excitement and the knowledge that you are everything you seek.

THE Accommodations: Piney River Ranch 

Set on the edge of Piney Lake at the foot of the stunning Gore Range, Piney River Ranch is a private, rustic Rocky Mountain spread, long known as a favorite day-trip destination for residents of the Vail Valley and Eagle County. Our new management has made a number of recent improvements to make every wedding, family reunion and corporate retreat truly memorable. Come to Piney River Ranch—just 11 miles from Vail—to experience a range of outdoor activities, from fishing and hiking to horseback riding and overnight camping. Our on-site restaurant boasts the best smoked BBQ around, too…so make sure to grab a spot at one of our family-style picnic tables and enjoy some on your next trip up! Piney River Ranch holds active partnerships with both the National Park Service and the Denver Water Board, each established to preserve the natural beauty of the ranch and its surrounding areas. 

DISCOVER COLORADO

At an incredible 2.3 million acres, White River National Forest is the largest forest in the state, and spans over ten of Colorado's counties. It also has more visitors than any other forest in the nation.

The Rocky Mountains dominate the White River National Forest, with many peaks in excess of 14,000 feet. One-tenth of the water that originates as snow or rain on the White River National Forest is diverted to Colorado Front Range cities and agricultural farms. But what we "keep" includes some of the best gold-medal fishing on the planet, and the whitewater rafting and kayaking will earn you bragging rights anywhere.

Wildlife is abundant, especially elk. In the early 1900’s only 1,100 elk were estimated to remain in Colorado, including 500 on the White River National Forest. There are now nearly 40,000 elk on the White River, one of every six in Colorado. Thousands of people climb the 14-ers each year at this park and it has been dubbed one of the nations most wild and well preserved national lands  in the country.

Transportation 

Transport to Piney River Ranch will be included and leave from the Lionshead Parking & Transportation Center in Vail. Pick up will be on July 8th, and will leave at 4:00 PM. Drop off time on July 12th will be 9:00 AM. For those traveling to Colorado from out of state, flights to Denver International Airport and Eagle County Airport will be the best option. Direct shuttle service to Vail from both of these airports is available at

In preparation for your trip, please read our Travel Planning Guide for important tips and information.